346 AgtfcutturU Report. 



various parts. As to the benefits of the frost or snow, their continuance was too 

 short to be very productive, no great extent of carting or other operations having 

 been performed : the same with regard to the snow as a cover and defence of the corn, 

 it being generally driven up in vast wreaths by the wind, leaving part of the corn, 

 too often the late sown and backward, most in want of defence, almost entirely 

 uncovered. The heavy lands have however received some benefit, and bean plant- 

 ing has been since proceeding with an expedition which shews the opinion in 

 favour of early sowing in the spring. The forward soils are prepared for oats and 

 barley, and a portion of the former are already in the soil. Seed barley is in great 

 demand, not only from the scarcity of that grain fit for seed, but on account of the 

 small quantity left in the hands of the farmers, from the peculiar circumstance of 

 its being so largely threshed for market, as from the stoppage of the machines, it 

 was not so practicable to obtain a timely supply of wheat. Thence the general 

 opinion that so much wheat being withheld will come in supply of the markets 

 towards the end of the season. One reason assigned for the great breadth of wheat 

 said to be sown, is the extensive failure of the turnip crop", those lands being in 

 consequence sown with wheat. The foul and neglected state of the lands is a 

 general topic, and we observe in print, the very wholesome advice, repeated how- 

 ever from authority more than three score years old, and even generally neglected, 

 to substitute hoeing cattle crops on heavy lands for summer fallows, as the only 

 means of clearing the soil ; the chief delect in this advice is, that all corn crops are 

 not included. On the coast of Kent particularly, they have wisely availed them- 

 selves of the late vast shoals of sprats, as a manure for their barley lands, the fish 

 being to be purchased at ninepence per bushel, and at such low price only, said to 

 be profitable, the manure being effective, but for one crop. Wheats are improving 

 in height and luxuriance, and the latter sown begin to make a figure, most upon 

 the light lands, which will probably win again in the present crop. 



The general tone in the market* reports has been and continues, a moderate of 

 short supply of English wheat. Prices gradually advancing, and will probably 

 continue so for some months at least; for the foreign supply has been greatly 

 checked, not only by the short crops, but lay the existing troubles on the Conti- 

 nent. Live stock, fat and lean, advance in price in a similar ratio. The rot in 

 sheep has rather increased, at least spread to a greater extent, to the ruin of many 

 Hockmasters, and it is generally supposed that a great scarcity will be found in the 

 national flocks in succeeding years. Indeed thescarcity of mutton would havealready 

 been great in the market, but for the vast numbers of suspected sheep which have 

 been slaughtered. This may have operated as one material cause of the great rise 

 and demand of wool, of which the stocks in the country are said to be very low. 

 Pigs, both store and fat, have taken another start in price. Of horses nothing 

 Vorthy of report occurs ; the ordinary sort have been reduced nearly to the price 

 of former days, and the best kinds are somewhat lower than of late years. Little 

 is doing in hops, bating some speculations to no great extent. 



We stated in our last that the troubles in the country had subsided, which is 

 correct, as far as regards insurrection and open violence; but we regret to say that 

 various instances of horrible and treacherous incendiarism subsequently took "place. 

 The unemployed labourers are said to be numerous, and even probably to increase, 

 a subject of great dismay in the country. In the richest counties they are yet 

 fully 'employed, at from 12s. to 14s. per week, in others at 9s. and 10s. Previously 

 to the troubles the majority of them were in a state of actual starvation ; and yet 

 we have seen letters which mainly attributed those troubles to the labourers fre- 

 quenting the new beer shops, and by their inordinate consumption, actually 

 reducing the stock of malt to a very low ebb. TUis is surely enigmatical, that 

 starving and pennyless labourers should possess the means of such an indul- 

 gence. From Dublin and various parts of Ireland, accounts of the deplorable state 

 of the poor, and- actual mortality in consequence, to a great extent, are truly 

 appalling. 



Smithjield Beef, 3s. 2d. to 4s. 6d. Mutton, 3s, 4d. to 4s. 8d Veal, 5s. to 

 6s. 2d. Pork, 4s. 6d. to 5s. 4d. Rough fat, 2s. lOd. 



Com Evchange. Wheat, 60s. to 86s Barley, 30s. to 50s Oats, 23s. to 34s 

 London 4lb. loaf, 10d Hay, 40s. to 84s. Clover ditto, 60s. to 105s. Straw, 

 34s. to 42s. 



Coal Exchange Coals, 27s. to 3Gs. 3d. per chaldron. 

 Middlesex, Feb. 21^. 



